Alex,

What a beauty!! Everything looks wonderful!!! Great job on all of the plants, but especially the Plummies!!!

I can't beleive how the Pudica has responded to being placed in the ground it really likes it there!!!

The Pretty Princess looks happy as well...it also looks like it has a little stem burn like some of mine had. Remember that you can use a paper towel holder and cut to size (lenght) then cut it and place on the stem. That will protect it from further damage until the leaves get larger to protect from the scorching sun.

I had to move some of my plants from the direct sun...They can't seem to handle this heat that we are having. Today is a little better that yesterday 101+ that doesn't even count what the heat index was...UUggggg..It's really to HOT!!!

Congratulation on the Divine bloom!!! I can't wait to see it finally open, I would bet on later this evening too!

How beautiful!!!

Laura in VB

Yes, please post when your 'Divine' opens up.

I may have to get one. It's a smaller plant that I can keep inside.

I had some really bad luck with plumerias in the garage this Spring (the largest ones!). Most all of them had their outer layer rotted (all the way thru to the cambium layer) just under the soil line and below. I'm not sure if it was because I kept them too wet, or if it got too cold in there (possibly into 30s for many nights). Maybe a combination? Any experience with that? A few are regrowing roots ABOVE the rot. Several, I cut off and now have HUGE cuttings which are trying to leaf out, but have no roots yet. Sad.

Thanks for the comments!

Laura, thanks for the tip. I will definitely have to try that. It seems like the damage was done when it first went out for the summer and the sun is probably to blame (for some reason the past 2 years has gotten very hot very early (90s in april and its a dry heat too which the plants arent too fond of). And the pudica loves it in the ground. If it all goes well I might be planting more in the ground next summer. Its a nice look and they dont mind being dug up unlike other plants.

Dave, I did get some blackening on the tips of some of my plumerias after they saw temps in the mid 30s but it grew out of it (it probably would have rotted if it saw just a few degrees colder). I think the main problem with plumerias isnt the cold but the duration of the cold they get. Temps in the mid 30s at night isnt usually bad if they get lots of sun and milder temps during the day. I keep mine in a cool room where temps are in the 60s pretty much all winter. I dont think they would like the dark, cold, motionless air in my garage during the winter. At least a few of yours are growing roots above the rot. Thats pretty interesting. Were they moist in the garage. Thats all I could think of that would cause that kind of rot.

Ill post some pics when it opends. Its 4:00 here so it has about 4 more hours of good daylight to open and its really getting there. If it doesnt open tomight it definitely will by tomorrow (but I notice that most of my plumieras open new flowers close to sunset, anyone else see that with there plumerias.
Good luck and thanks again for looking!!
-Alex

The first flower still isnt completely opened but I had to take a pic anyway!
Here it is......

The flower is maybe 2 inches across and it has a pretty good scent to it too. It does have a few streaks in it (as you can see). Does it have a virus. I just want to make sure that its perfectly healthy because its a really beautiful plumeria. I think it should be giving me blooms all summer long because it has new inflos comming up on the other branches.

And heres another flower pic. Its a double peach hibiscus. It was in bad shape this march after a frost hit it but its a strong plant. This is my favorite hibiscus because of its frost resistance and very abundant blooms. I had no leaves on it just 3 months ago.

Thanks for looking!!!!
Good luck!
-Alex

Alex, does 'Divine' has a strong scent?
My dwarf Singapore pink doesn't have much of a scent, i'm thinking of getting another plumeria. Thanks :)

Alex...That is so beautiful!..It's like waiting to have a baby...well, sort of !...I am new to plummies!..My first one, adopted last fall, has a few small leaves on one branch and an inflo on the other that I have been watching like a hawk several times a day..I can see it changing constantly and getting ready..(when?)to bloom. It will be very exciting...I have no idea of the color. It's former mom had it for about 5 years and it never bloomed for her!.. so I feel very lucky! I don't know how to get the pix from my file onto my message, so I don't have any to show. But congrats on your gorgeous flower and I will be sure to check tomorrow for more!..Your other plants are so beautiful and look very happy!.. Bravo!

Alex,

SIMPLY DIVINE!!!!

What a beauty!!!

Congratulations!!!

Now....scratch and sniff________ Where can I find the wonderful scent? LOL !!!!

Great Job!!!

Laura in VB

kemistry, the scent is really nice. Its pretty clear if you go next to the flower but its not very strong (I guess it might be stronger when its 100% fully open.

I really think this is my favorite plumeria. Anyone who is thinking about getting this plumeria, I say go for it because its a great grower but also a great brancher guaranteeing lots of blooms and a small full plant. Its definitely better than I expected it and the plant you are seeing now was only a little 6 inches tall with 3 branches this time last year.

Eileen, Thanks a lot! I know exactly what you mean. This is only my second year with plumerias but I still go outside very often to see it slowly open up! I remember my first plumeria bloom (which was late august of last year). I must have gone outside 20 times that day to see it especially since I had no idea what color it would be. I hope that your plumeria blooms soon but Im sure when it does it will be a beauty! Uploading pics on here is hard at first. You need to upload your pics to a image hosting site like photobucket and then copy one of the 4 links (the 3rd one) and paste it onto your message.

Laura, I think that a scratch and sniff is definitely a necessity for this forum!I guess the best way to describe the flower scent would be to compare it to a gardenia kind of like perfume. Maybe its similar to a citrus flower? Its hard to describe. Too bad I cant send the scent to you! I wonder if the smell would become really noticeable when the plant is completely covered in blooms (I cant wait!!!!)

And sorry, Not sure what happened to the hibiscus flower pic but if you want to see it click on one of the pics above and you can see the album on photobucket and the hibiscus flower should be near to these pics.

Thanks a lot for all the complements! I hope you enjoyed. Ill post some more pics when it blooms more! Thanks for looking!
-Alex

Your Divine looks happy and healthy! And the bloom is gorgeous. I got mine last year from a vendor selling at the county fair. Happy growing season.

Kasie

Thanks kasie! Im surprised at how long this plumeria holds its blooms. The blooms last about 2 days from the opening to the closing (maybe 3 days). This plumeria is so much better than I expected and I hope for lots more blooms in the future!
Happy growing season to you too. Im not sure but isnt California is starting to warm up too now? Plumerias seem to love heat!
Good luck!
-Alex

Hi Alex - I'm in the Inland Empire area and it gets to be quite hot. Looks like this week will be in the low 90's. Plumerias tends to have vibrant colors here, but only to fade sooner than normal. Some times it's in the triple digit then the leaves and petals get scorched. Every season I try not to buy more plumerias because I have lots of seedlings growing. Somehow I've failed that thought and managed to pick up a few this month. I guess it's the addiction of growing plumerias...You'll have to post the full head shot of your Divine!!

Kasie

Wow, thats really hot. Its been really warm here too but the humidity keeps them from burning (and the afternoon clouds shade it well). I try not to buy too many plumerias but they are addicting! I will definitely post once it gets a full head which should be in a week or so. Im looking forward to it!
Thanks for posting!
Good luck!
-Alex

Hi Alex: I'm at work...checking in to see if your new bloom has arrived! (As I previously mentioned, it is like waiting for a baby to be born! LOL).

Weather in Vermont these past few days has been quite cool; 67ish for the past 2 days with night time lows in the mid 40's! So I decided to bring my soon-to-bloom plummie indoors last night and ...ouch...accidentally and unknowingly bumped off a precious tiny bud! OMG...it was on the dining room floor!... pick it up, apologize, feel remorse and move on!...a bit over the emotional top!...yeah..but oh, I am so anxious! Luckily "she's" back outside in the warm sun today with 90 degree temps scheduled through July 4!... Good luck with yours...I'll check back ...Eileen

Hi! More blooms have come and Im going to take a pic of it tommorrow. Now there are 3 blooms on the head (the original is still on there (ive never had a single plumeria flower last this long (its nearly been a week!!!). I think 2 more flowers are on its way for tomorrow but I dont think they will be fully open until 4th of July. The weather has been cool here too (low temperatures got down to 58F one night) but nothing bad enough to effect the plumerias and the heat wave comming is really going to give them a boost! Temperatures should remain very firmly in the 90s for several days (mid to upper 90s!!).
Sorry to hear about the loss of your flower bud. At least it wasnt the entire flower head (that would be really terrible). Definitely post some pics of its blooms when they open!
Ill try to get a pic of my blooms soon. Its really doing well!
Thanks for looking!!!
-Alex

I look forward to your pix; sounds beautiful! Watching the tiny buds ever so slowly unfurl is ... well, you know! I still can't detect what color it will be! Today's 90 temps are helping tremendously! I'll take the pix and try to include here!..Good luck, happy 4th! Eileen

I got some more pics! Here they are as of this morning (the original flower is STILL on it!)

What size plant did you order? A one-gallon? or larger?

It looks like it's going to be a good bloomer. How long have you had it now?

WHen I bought it It was a really small plant (smaller than a 1 gallon). I got it around may of last year and it has put out tremendous growth. Im going to try to find a pic of it way back when and Im going to post a more recent pic of it since 2 branches are now in bloom!

Hello! Finally, the wait is over!... I am so excited...my first plumeria has finally opened..about 3 days ago..yes, it is almost like waiting for a baby to be born!...(sort of..) Having never heard of them until Oct 2009, and then to have such luck in my first "ignorant" attempt!...Thank goodness for everyone here on this forum!...I've learned so much!...so please, if you get a chance, I've managed to figure out how to get the pictures to the gallery (still don't know how to attach them here!). It is creamy yellow, with lemon yellow on the inside of each petal and smells heavenly, like a subtle and expensive perfume! It's not very big, small and delicate! So now I need to learn to take better pictures! Thank you for all your wise advice ! Eileen in Vermont! (I might be a bit over the top excited!...sorry about that).

I just checked your pic on the gallery and it looks great! Congrats!! I was also very excited for my first plumeria bloom and I still get excited to see them bloom! Now I see an inflo. forming on my plumiera pudica (which I have planted in the ground to be dug up in the fall). Im really looking forward for that bloom too!
The bad thing about having luck with your first plumeria so early is that you want to buy more and more! Very nice plants and when given care they will flower very well!
Thanks for sharing. Glad it finally bloomed!
-Alex

Thank you Alex, for looking in on my pix! Your encouragement is greatly appreciated!..as are your wonderful garden pix..all of them! As for the plumeria pudica, I'm not sure, but is that one that does not drop its leaves in winter? I notice in your picture, it looks quite different, the leaves look darker and "bolder"! You are right about wanting more!.. My other adoptee is a one-branched creature with larger leaves on the top. As I've asked in another post, I was hoping, perhaps next spring, to cut the branch into a cutting and start a new one (the propagation bug bites too); or else maybe I should give it another year to show that it too can blossom (It has never). Thanks again.

Does anyone who might have seen my pix submitted on July 12 to the gallery, have an idea of which "named" variety it might look like. I realize it doesn't prove it is; but curious! Thanks Eileen

Your welcome. Sorry but I dont know the ID of your plumeria.
Yes, Pudica stays evergreen. Actually I remember reading that it is pretty much the only plumeria that can bloom under normal household conditions, if by a very bright spot indoors. Its a really nice plumeria with glossier leaves then most plumerias (and a different shape). Im really looking forward to its blooms but I hppe that it doesnt bloom for another month.

Heres an updated pic of my divine. Im really happy with this plumeria!!!

And heres my new desert rose. I think it was 17 dollars at a nearby nursery.

Thanks for looking everyone! Enjoy!
-Alex

Wow Alex..that's a pretty big difference....I think it's time for me to get a Divine. Hehe

They are definitely one of my favorites! Fast growing, but not tall growing. And I accidentally ripped off half of the roots when it came in the mail so I wasnt even expecting it to live let alone grow so nicely and bloom for be the next year! The leaves are one of my favorite features on this plumeria, but I must admit that the blooms are pretty large for a dwarf. I dont think there will be a time that I dont find joy in seeing plumeria blooms, even if I ever do move to the tropics.